Demand for our services is not likely to change and we are excited by the possibilities. According to our progress monitoring results, the faculty has grown more proficient at helping all children succeed. Consequently, our reputation for reconciliation has spread; meaning more students, more economic and racial diversity, and more complex needs to address.
If necessity is the mother of invention, we will have to change and grow or fail to achieve our vision. We would like to capitalize on your commitment and grow in three ways:

1) Increase the percentage of at-risk students we serve
We are enrolling 9 new immigrants from Burma and Congo (up 4% to 23% of students). Additionally, we are enrolling more students from foster care and economically-disadvantaged settings, including a 3 year-old whose teenage mother participates in another Restore St. Louis ministry, Harambee Youth Training.

2) Serve a larger percentage of at-risk students with greater needs than ever before
We are hiring one of our experienced teachers to fill a newly created position: Instructional Coordinator. The Instructional Coordinator will train all teachers in the best practices that work for at-risk students, as well as collaborate with other special service teachers and resources who will act as “case managers”. This cost-effective, collective problem-solving model will not only allow us to serve the needs of our students at all of their levels, but will also allow us to enroll and serve students with much greater emotional, social, and academic needs.

3) Dramatically increase the size of the school to address increasing demand

We have applied for an extraordinary grant, $500,000 to $5,000,000, from Deaconess Foundation. If we qualify as a semi-finalist at the end of May, we will outline options for how we intend to build capacity. If they choose to partner with us for the next four years, they will fund new classroom construction, new school buses, new technology, professional development and a percentage of salaries.

(Quick Update: we only need $130,000 to finish this school year!)

Thank you again for continued your prayers and support!
I am very excited as God continues to use you to broaden and deepen His Kingdom.

In His Service,
Tim

1) Two months ago, FOCUS St. Louis, a prominent development group, released a study of St. Louis charter schools. The results are disheartening. Charter schools were created to offer a better education to urban students when St. Louis Public Schools lost their accreditation in 1998. Out of 17 schools, only 6 are out-performing St. Louis Public Schools.

• In contrast, you’ve supported The Freedom School since 1997 and 90% of students, 1^st-5^th grade, are performing at average, above average or well above average levels compared to national norms. Including students receiving academic or English as a Second Language assistance, 77% of students, 1^st-5^th grade, are performing at, above, or well above average levels compared to national norms.

2) I have learned from special education officials in St. Louis County that thousands of students in the city and county are not receiving any additional assistance in most public and private schools. For more individualized instruction, parents must pay over $20,000 a year to the two schools who specialize in this area.

• We differentiate instruction for all students. We adopted AIMSweb, a research-based, online assessment system to help identify students with academic and behavioral concerns. We utilize part-time faculty and volunteer tutors to implement small group and one-on-one interventions. We can now monitor effectiveness on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis over a student’s entire elementary school career.

3) We are trending towards even greater diversity in enrollment as satisfied clients spread the word. We have more balanced diversity than most local districts or the state average: 55% poverty level, 19% immigrant/refugee, 10% East Asian, 8% Central and West African, 38% African-American, and 44% Caucasian. We also serve 5 foster care students from extremely abusive backgrounds and 22 students from conflict nations. We are on-track for these numbers to grow next year.

With your help, we are positioning ourselves to address the needs of our city in a broader and deeper way; with justice and accountability.

Tim

Today we read the book, The Dot. It is about a student who stares at a blank piece of paper because she doesn’t know how to draw. Her teacher encourages her to make a mark on the page. She makes a dot. The teacher has her sign her work. The next day, when the student comes to Art Class, her dot picture is framed and hanging up. This encourages the student to experiment with size and color.

We made Dot Art today using our finger. We were sure to have the students “sign” their names at the bottom of their piece. These art pieces will be featured on our Art Wall in the hall.

I would encourage you to stop by our room later this week and take a look at some of the work your student is creating at school.

We had a visit from loal author Acadia McGee today. She read her book, COMPOST! to us. She also helped us build a worm compost bin.

We will be on Chanel 4 news Friday at 6pm. Be sure to check us out!

If you would like to purchase a copy of the book, please visit Acadia’s website at www.acadiamcgee.com

We started learning about our “SPECIAL LETTER” today! We were very excited to discover what our letter is. We used “SPECIAL PAINT MARKERS”, to make our “SPECIAL LETTERS”. I would encourage each of you start discussing the letters in your child’s name at home.

Today we read the book, Olivia Forms A Band. So, on our walk, we formed a band. We enjoyed walking around the school playing musical instruments.

 We have FREE HOT LUNCH on Monday and Wednesday. Today, we enjoyed chicken nuggets, french fries and apple sauce. Thanks to all who make hot lunch possible for us!

Please review the new Parent Handbook in your Thursday Folder.

Tuition is DUE

Tuition is due on the 1^st of every month. You may be thinking “Why should I pay for a service I haven’t received yet?” All private schools charge tuition for services.  Ideally, we would get everyone to pay the entire tuition at the beginning of the school year. Then, we would know for certain that we can cover our expenses. The tuition is broken up over ten months to help make the tuition less of a burden for you.
It could be done over twelve months, but it is easier to remember to pay tuition when school is in session from August through May, than over the summer when it is not in session. If you would like to pay by automatic withdrawal from your bank account, please let us know.

Pizza Lunch Fridays
Pizza lunch is happening tomorrow, Friday, 8/18!!! Cost is $1/slice.

Hot Lunch Mondays and Wednesdays: August Menu

YES! Hot lunch will now be available Mondays and Wednesdays at no cost.

Monday   8/22   Chicken Nuggets, French fries, Apple Sauce, Dessert
Wednesday  8/24  Breakfast for Lunch
Monday 8/29  Chicken Patty or Mac Cheese, Chips, Peaches, Dessert
Wednesday  8/31   Lasagna, Breadw/butter, Green Beans, Dessert

Observing one of our fish

Listening to Mrs. Whitehorn explain how to play a game.

 

Today, we went to visit another special teacher at our school. Mrs. Whitehorn will teach PE on Tuesday and Thursday. Be sure to wear your tennis shoes!